Wedge block for die casting machine



United States Patent Inventor John A. Perkon Wickliffe, Ohio App]. No.754,551 v Filed Aug. 22, 1968 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Assignee BasicAluminum Castings Company WEDGE BLOCK FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE 7 Claims,6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 164/339; 29/238 Int. Cl B22d 33/04 Field ofSearch 164/339; 29/238References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,823 11/1952 Perkon PrimaryExaminer-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John E. RoethelAttorneyWatts, l-loffmann, Fisher & l-leinke ABSTRACT: A wedge blockcombination apparatus for a die casting machine mounted adjacent therear of the main ram of the said machine and on opposite sides of saidram, the said apparatus having a pair of main wedges and a pair offacing plate wedges. Each of said main wedges having a rabbet recessalong its face and end adjacent the main ram of said machine and havingone of said facing plate wedges adjustably mounted therein tofrictionally engage the rear surface of said main ram of said machinefor lockup and quick release of said apparatus.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 3,543,835

Sheet L of 2 Patentea Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet g or 2 INVENTOR. JOA/A/ A.PIER/(0M M4773: HO/CFMAA/M inn/5,6 yam/446 A rraw/M 1 WEDGE BLOCK FORDIE CASTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to the art of diecasting of metalssuitable for such use such as aluminum, brass and magnesium and moreparticularly to the field of diecasting machines having apparatus forholding the dies in proper alinement during the casting operation.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art apparatus used in thediecasting field to provide proper alinement and lockup during thecasting operation of which applicant is familiar is best shown in theUS. Pat. No. 2,618,823 where a pair of unitary wedge blocks are used toengage the main ram of a diecasting machine. The disadvantages in itsuse over the wedge block combination apparatus of the present inventioninclude the additional force required in releasingthe built up pressureloaded upon the wedge block during the diecasting operation and theslowness of the release resulting therefrom and the lack ofadjustability of the ram-engaging surface of the wedge.

SUMMARY In contrast with the prior art in the diecasting wedge blockfield, the present invention avoids the disadvantages found in such artin the following respects, among others: The wedge block combination ofthe present invention provides the advantage of a quick release of thegreat pressure loaded upon the wedge block during thediecastingoperation through the frictional disengagement of the at justable wedgeparts from the main ram of the machine at the conclusion of thediecasting operation. Another advantage is its greater reliability inthe alinement of main ram and the die parts. It also reduces the amountof flash extruded from the dies during the operation of the machine.Another advantage is that it eliminates the die end whip or backlash ofthe die parts during the operation of the machine.

Other advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing will appear inthe following description and the accompanying drawing of the invention.

THE DRAWING The invention is illustrated in the drawings in whichconventional parts are omitted or merely indicated to clarify thespecification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the essential parts of the machine showingthe novel wedge block assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, somewhat enlarged, sectional plan view of thenovel wedge block and activating cylinders shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the wedge blocks shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and enlarged plan view of the wedge block,partly in section, showing the wedge with the wedge face plateretracted;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the wedge block shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary and enlarged plan view of the wedge block shownin FIG. 4 with the wedge face plate extended.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The wedge block combination of the inventionand the diecasting machine parts associated therewith is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The base (not shown) of the diecastingmachine and the upright frame members (partially shown) for such machinemounted upon said base and upon which the wedge block combination ismounted may be of any suitable structure such as shown in the John A.Perkon, US. Pat. No. 2,618,823. I

It will be seen that the wedge block combination of the invention andthe associated diecasting machine parts comprise a housing member A,--amain ram member B and a wedge member C. t The said housing member Aincludes three spaced upright machine frame members designated 10, 11and 12 and four horizontal rods designated l3, 14, 15 and 16 positionedat the four corners of a theoretic" transverse square rigidly connectingthe said three upright frame members 10, 11 and 12. The said rods arethreaded into the respective framemembers with tubular spacers 17between fraine members 10 and 11, said rods are tightly connected tosaid frame members by any suitable means such as jamb nuts 18.

The said main ram member B includes a sleeve 30 slidably mounted in acylindrical opening 31 of the frame member 11 for longitudinal movementtherein, a head 32 on said sleeve 30 adjacent said cylindrical opening31 that is held thereon by any suitable means such as screws 33. Thesaid sleeve 30 is restricted against rotative movement by suitable meanssuch as a longitudinally extending spline 34 that occupies a keyway 35in the frame member 11. The said sleeve 30 is internally threaded toreceive an externally threaded screw 36. A movable crosshead 37 isslidably mounted on the four horizontal rods 13, l4, l5 and 16 and whichprovides a movable abutment for the movable die (not shown), thefastening for the movable die is indicated by the T-slots 38 on the faceof the crosshead adjacent frame member 12 which has similar T- slots 39for holding the fixed die (not shown).

The said screw 36 has a rigidly attached head 40 which is mounted in acircular'recess in the crosshead 37 for rotative movement therein. Thesaid screw 36 may be rotated by any suitable means attached to the saidhead 40 for movement of the crosshead 37 and the movable die toward oraway from member 12 and the fixed die positioned thereon, such as isshown in said Perkon US. Pat. No. 2,618,823.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing it will be seen that thesleeve 30 is mounted adjacent its head 32 in a cylindrical opening 31 ofthe upright frame member 11 and is held nonrotatably but slidably insaid frame member 11 by a spline 34 that occupies a keyway 35. The saidhead 32 of the sleeve 30 has a connecting rod 41 mounted thereon inaxial alinement therewith. The said connecting rod 41 extends outwardlytherefrom through an opening 42 in a block 43 of frame member 10 to aplunger 44 positioned in a cylinder 45 affixed to said frame members 10.The said cylinder 45 may receive fluid under pressure and thus throughthe plunger and connecting rod force the sleeve 30, the screw 36, thecrosshead 37 and movable die into coaction with the fixed die.

The said connecting rod 41 may be made adjustable as to its length asdesired by any suitable means such as adjusting nuts 46 thereon adjacentthe head 32.

The said wedge member C includes a pair of main wedges 50 and a pair offacing plate wedges 51. As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing the mainwedges 50 are in horizontal and vertical alinement one with the otherand are positioned with one face 52 thereof adjacent the periphery ofthe said head 32 of the sleeve 30 for simultaneous slidable movementforward upon the surface of the head 32 and a similar retractablemovement therefrom.

The said main wedges 50 preferably have concave face to face ends 53that form an arc of a circle substantially the same as the saidperiphery of the said head 32 of the sleeve 30.

Each of said ends 53 of the main wedges 50 preferably has a rabbetrecess at 54 adjacent the said head 32 and along face 52 to receive oneof the pair of facing plate wedges 51 having a length, width andthickness substantially equal to the dimensions of the rabbet recesses54 and having a concave edge 55 to conform to the concave end 53 of saidmain wedges 50.

As shown in FIG. 4 preferably the faces 56 of the said rabbet recesses54 are inclined at an angle of 6 from the plane of the said faces 52 ofsaid main wedges 50 and have the end surfaces 57 of said rabbet recesses54 at a right angle to said faces 56 thereof. The said facing platewedges 51 have their faces 58 adjacent said head 32 inclined at an angleof 4 from the plane of the said faces 52 of the main wedges.

As shown in FIG. 6 the said rabbet recesses 54 of the main wedges 50each have a vertical rectangular integral rib 59 centrally on thesurface 56 thereof adjacent said head 32, and the facing plate wedges 51have on the surfaces 60 thereof adjacent surfaces 56 of the. main wedgesa vertical rectangular slot 61 centrally thereof to receive one of saidribs 59. Each of said slots 61 preferably should be at least twice thewidth of said ribs 59 and should be positioned so that when the facingplate wedges 51 are seated in the saidrecesses 54 of the concavesurfaces 53 and 55 of the main wedges and facing plate wedgesrespectively are in alinement The width of said slots 61 in excess ofthe thickness of said ribs 59 determines the range of lateral movementof the main wedges 50 without movement of the facing plate wedges 51 inthe quick release operation of the machine.

The main wedges 50 are mounted for operation between members 10 and 11and are positioned for forward and retractable lateral movement throughconnections at their rear surfaces 62 to plungers 63 and 64 in cylinders65 and 66 respectively which are adapted to receive fluid underpressure.

As shown in FIGS. 4, and 6 it will be seen that the said rear surfaces62 of the main wedges 50 preferably have horizontal cylindricalapertures 67 therein that extend through the main wedges 50 to the endsurfaces 57 of said recesses 54. The said apertures 67 have shoulders 68therein adjacent said end surfaces 57. Good results are obtained byproviding one of said apertures 67 at the approximate midpoint of themain wedges 50 between the top edge thereof and the axis of the plunger41 and another at the midpoint between the bottom edge thereof and saidplunger 41.

The facing plate wedges 51 have blind threaded cylindrical apertures 69in the rear surfaces 70 of the facing plate wedges 51 in axial alinementwith said apertures 67 to receive bolts 71 positioned in said apertures67 for mounting said facing plate wedges 51 in said recesses 54 .of themain wedges 50.

The said bolts 71 have flanges 72 adjacent their heads 73 and threadscomplimentary to the threaded apertures 69 of the facing plate wedges 51adjacent their other ends. Spiral springs 74 are provided into whichsaid bolts 71 are inserted prior to being placed in said apertures 67.The said springs 74 have one end thereof abutting the flanges 72 ofeachbolt and the'other end abutting said shoulders 68 of the apertures67 so that when said bolts 71 are threaded'into the apertures 69 of thefacing plate wedges 51 the said springs 74 will slidably force thefacing plate wedges 51 against back surfaces 57 of said recesses 54 to aclosed or retracted position with the main wedges 50.

in a modified form the said facing plate wedges 51 may be attached tothe said main wedges 50 by making the main wedges 50 without the saidrabbet recesses 54 but with the inclined 6 degree surface 56. Theportions of the main wedges 50 adjacent the rear ends 57 of saidrecesses 54 being made as separate elements and as part of the facingplate wedges 51. All other elements or parts of the main wedges 50 andthe facing plates wedges 51 remain the same and operate the same as inthe preferred form. The said modified form of the facing plate wedges 51may be attached to the main wedges 50 by screws or other suitable means.

In the machine operation of diecasting, the dies are brought into acasting position by first admitting fluid under pressure into thecylinder 45 to move the main ram member B and the movable die toward thefixed die, alined therewith, and to force the movable die tightlyagainst the fixed die.

Then as the said main ram moves forward and the head 32 of the sleeve 30approaches the surfaces 58 of the facing plate which are inclined 4 intoabutting engagement with a similarly inclined peripheral area 75 of thehead 32 adjacent thereto. The engagement of the facing plate wedges 51with the head 32 gives a good surface contact and locks the machine onthe 4 angle and thus prevents any movement of the movable die from thefixed die. This allows the insertion of the casting material into thedies under heavy pressure without slippage or misalinement of the dies.

wedges 51, the fluid under pressure is admitted to the two I When acasting has been made it is of great importance to secure a quickrelease of the main ram member B and the wedges from the locking area.The high frictional resistance between the facing plate wedges 51 andthe head 32 of the main ram member B on the 4 angle is overcome byadmitting fluid under pressure in the cylinders 65 and 66 to retract themain wedges 50 which causes them to move back along the 6 angle of therecesses 54 where the frictional resistance is lower due to the 6 angleof the contacting surfaces. The higher frictional resistance between thefacing plate wedges 51 and the head 32 prevents the facing plate wedges51 from moving and overcomes the force of the spiral springs 74. Thusthe facing plate wedges 51 remain in place until the ribs 59 engage theside of the slots 61. At that point much of the high frictionalresistance along the 4 surfaces has been relieved so that the mainwedges 50 and the facing plate wedges 51 can move back or retracttogether from the rear of the main ram member B in a quick release witha minimum use of power. When the wedges have retracted and cleared thehead 32 of the main ram member B it then can be moved back to releasethe movable die from the completed casting. This is accomplished byadmission of fluid in cylinder 45 under pressure to retract the plunger44. The machine is thus quickly ready for another casting operation.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of detailed character;in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to beunderstood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various arrangements of parts andmodifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A wedge block assembly for a diecasting molding machine as describedfor locking and releasing the main ram unit thereof, the said wedgeblock assembly comprising:

a. a pair of main wedges mounted in said machine transversely of themain ram of said unit and spaced apart on opposite sides thereofadjacent the rear head of said main ram and in alinement therewith;

b. means for slidably moving said main wedges in unison forward throughthe adjacent peripheral area of said rear head and for retracting saidmain wedges therefrom;

c. a pair of facing plate wedges mounted on said main vwedges alongitsside surface adjacent said rear head of said main ram for slidablemovement therewith, one of said pair being mounted on a main wedgecomplementary thereto along its forward side surface for frictionalengagement with the peripheral area of said main ram rear head;

. said main wedges, each having the forward portion of its said sidesurface inclined adjacent the facing plate wedge mounted thereon, andsaid facing plate wedges, each having its outer surface inclinedadjacent the said peripheral area of said main ram rear head, the saidinclined surfaces of the said main wedges being greater in degrees ofincline from the plane of said side surfaces thereof than the degrees ofincline of said facing plate wedges from the plane of said side surfacesof said main wedges;

e. means for limited retractive movement of said main wedgesindependently of said facing plate wedges;

f. means for limited slidable retractive movement of said facing platewedges independently of said main wedges; and

. said peripheral area of said main ram rear head having the surfacethereof inclined substantially similar to the said inclined surfaces ofsaid facing plate wedges for frictional engagement therewith during thelocking operation of the said machine.

2. The wedge block assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the means forslidably moving said main wedges are cylinders mounted on said machineadjacent the rear of said wedges having fluid activated plungers thereinthat are connected to the rear of said wedges.

3. The wedge block assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the means forlimited retracu've movement of said main wedges independently of saidfacing plate wedges are ribs on the inclined surfaces of said mainwedges with each main wedge having at least one rib and slots on theadjacent surfaces of the facing plate wedges to receive said ribs, thesaid ribs and said slots extending across the central portion of therespective surfaces of said wedges transversely to the movement of saidwedges, the said slots being approximately twice the width of theadjacent ribs and having their forward sidewalls in alinement with theforward sidewalls of said adjacent ribs in their respective retractedpositions.

4. The wedge block assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the saidinclined surfaces of the main wedges are inclined approximately 6 andthe said inclined surfaces of the facing plate wedges and the inclinedsurface of the peripheral area of the ram rear head are inclinedapproximately 4, respectively, from the plane of the said side surfaceof the main wedges.

5. The wedge block assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the said mainwedges have rabbet recesses along the said inclined surfaces thereof toreceive and mount said facing plate wedges therein.

6. The wedge block assembly as defined in claim 5 in which the means forlimited slidable movement of said facing plate wedges are spiral springsin apertures of said main wedges having bolts inserted therein forslidably mounting said facing plate wedges to said main wedges.

7. The wedge block assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of saidfacing plate wedges has a rear support portion adjacent the said sidesurfaces of each main wedge, the said rear support portion having spacedlongitudinal apertures therein to receive bolts inserted in spiralsprings, the said bolts are threaded into alined apertures in the rearof said facing plate under spring tension to permit slidable movement ofsaid facing plate wedge, the said rear portion has spaced transverseapertures therein to receive bolts to be threaded into alined aperturesin the said side surface of said main wedge for mounting said spacingplate wedge on said main wedge.

